Outdoor learning for Awaawa today.

Kia ora koutou

Congratulations to all of our students who competed in the Small School Swimming and Kowai Swimming Sports. The results are listed below. Also well done to Hugh and Harry who qualified for the Canterbury Swimming Sports. These are being held next week.

Thanks to Donald who came in to talk to our students last week as part of our ‘Belonging’ inquiry. Our students loved hearing about Donald’s Olympic achievements, it was so inspiring!

We would like to wish Georgie all the best for her wedding this Friday. It is such a special time, and we are very excited for her. The teachers and myself will be attending on the day, so Mr Stone and Mrs Maddren will be teaching that day.

Next week Year 5-8 are heading to Hanmer Springs for their camp. It’s such an exciting time, and there is usually excitement and a few nerves as well. Thanks to Kelly for leading the camp, and to Bella who is a teacher on camp also. I look forward to joining them for two of the days. Students will receive their camp booklet this week, and it will be emailed home to parents.

Ngā mihi
Maree Lucas
Tumuaki/Principal
principal@omihi.school.nz

School Notices

The Faraway Tree - Thursday 2nd April
We still need help with transport to Rangiora to see The Faraway Tree. If you don’t want to watch the movie, you are welcome to drop children off, and pick up again afterwards. We will be leaving school at 9am.

Literacy update - from Georgie, Leader of Literacy
The literacy curriculum has had a refresh and the focus has shifted from broad curriculum levels to specific phases of learning that align directly with year levels. Year 0-3 has a big focus on phonological awareness and phonics. The biggest change for years 4-6 is the shift from "learning to read" to "reading to learn." Increased focus on complex vocabulary, comprehension strategies, and writing for different purposes. For years 7-8 there is a focus on deeper analysis, understanding different perspectives, and using literacy to advocate for oneself.

As a staff we are constantly learning and evolving our teaching with the curriculum which we are doing by running professional learning focused on literacy twice a term during staff meetings.

Student’s writing from Awaawa
Goodbye Summer, I will miss the ice cream dripping down my hand as I slurp it up. Goodbye Summer, I will miss the waves knocking me off my feet, Freya.

Goodbye Summer, I will miss my golf ball flying through the air like a plane. Goodbye Summer, I will miss doing manu’s in the warm lake with a massive backslap, Freddie.

Goodbye Summer, I will miss the hot sand between my toes. Goodbye Summer, I will miss the waves crashing me under water, Heidi.

Goodbye Summer, I will miss your soft breeze blowing through my hair. Goodbye Summer, I will miss the red crabs scuttling in and out of the water like crazy ballerinas, Emma.

Small School Swimming Results (Omihi, Waipara, Broomfield Schools)
One length:
Emma - freestyle (3rd)
Mackenzie - freestyle (3rd)
Charlotte - freestyle (2nd), backstroke (2nd)
Lavi - freestyle (2nd), breaststroke (3rd)
Ze’ev - freestyle (1st)
Noah - freestyle (3rd), backstroke (3rd)
Arlo - backstroke (1st)
Michael - backstroke (2nd)
Ze’ev - breaststroke (1st)
Theo L - breaststroke (2nd)

Two lengths:
Harry - butterfly (3rd), medley (1st), freestyle (1st), backstroke (1st), breaststroke (1st)
Arlo - medley (2nd), freestyle (2nd) breaststroke (2nd)
Fergus - medley (3rd), freestyle (3rd), backstroke (2nd), breaststroke (3rd)
Michael - freestyle (3rd), breaststroke (3rd)
Ze’ev - backstroke (3rd)
Hugh - breaststroke (2nd)
Alex - breaststroke (2nd)

Kowai Swimming Sports
Harry - freestyle (2nd), backstroke (1st), breaststroke (1st), medley (1st)
Fergus - backstroke (3rd), medley (2nd)
Hugh - breaststroke (1st)
Alex - breaststroke (2nd)

Own Clothes Day
On Friday 20th March children can wear their own clothes. Please bring a donation to go towards Ronald McDonald House.

Kids Lit Quiz - Tuesday 31st March
We are excited to take two teams to this for the first time. Maree will be in touch with parents to organise the details. More info about the event is here.

Community Notices

Paemoana visiting the Amberley Library.

Kia ora koutou

Next week I am heading up to Wellington for my second meeting of the term in my New Zealand Principal’s Federation (NZPF) role. It’s been a great learning curve so far, and I was excited to be a part of the Rural Education Reference Group (RERG) meeting as part of my role. This is an opportunity for rural representatives from across NZ to meet termly and discuss the wins and struggles in our sector. We have a variety of politicians that join us to listen to our concerns and questions. In my first meeting we had Tom Haig, Policy and Research Director for the Green Party and Thomas Corser, Office for Rural Communities | Ministry for Primary Industries - Manatū Ahu Matua. Some of the topics we discussed in this meeting were around rural school buses, the new curriculum in multi-level classrooms, staffing in rural schools, youth mental health and attendance. If you are interested, I’m always happy to have a chat about any of these meetings, and would love to hear if you have any ideas or thoughts to share as well.

We have our Year 4-8 swimming sports tomorrow. Please note, if I haven’t heard from you to let me know your child needs a ride to swimming sports, then we will expect to see them there at 9.15am. Please have a chat with your child so you know which races they are entered in. We aim to have every child enter at least 2 races, with a few exceptions who will be doing one race. The races should be finished by around 12pm.

Ngā mihi
Maree Lucas
Tumuaki/Principal
principal@omihi.school.nz

School Notices

Lunch orders
We are unfortunately no longer able to get sushi on Wednesdays. Subway will continue to be a fortnightly option to order via EZLunch. The next date for Subway is this Wednesday, 4 March.

Year 4-8 Kowai Swimming Sports
The children that qualify from the Small School Swimming Sports will participate in the Kowai Swimming Sports on Friday 6th March at 1.30pm at the Amberley Pool. We will let parents know who has qualified by Wednesday.

Author visit
As part of our ‘Belonging to our Community’ inquiry, we have a local author visiting on Wednesday 4th March. We are excited to welcome Emma Francis who wrote Rocco and Delilah Bee - The Magic of Kindness.

3 Way Learning Conferences
We have our 3 Way Learnings Conferences on Monday 16th and Tuesday 17th March. This is an opportunity for parents, students and their teacher to talk about goals for the year. Please register here.

Own clothes day - Friday 20th March
On Friday 20th March we have an ‘own clothes day’ and will be raising money for Ronald McDonald House. Our senior leaders choose our charities for each of these days. Please send along a gold coin donation.

Food Truck Friday
The weather is looking amazing for this Friday! We can’t wait to see you at our Food Truck Friday, this Friday 6th March across the road from school. Please tell your friends and spread the word. The following food trucks are confirmed:

• Big B’s Tucka

• Sabaya - Israeli Cuisine

• One scoop or two - ice cream truck

• Beans and Berries - coffee, sweet treats and real fruit ice cream

• Homestead Harvest - Delicious seasonal treats from the farm kitchen to your belly

• Os's Kitchen - Indian and Pakistani Cuisine

The Faraway Tree movie - Thursday 2nd April
After reading The Faraway Tree with the whole school, we will be going to see the movie on the last day of term at Town Hall Cinemas in Rangiora at 10am. If you are available to take transport to this, please let Maree know.

Community Notices

Kia ora koutou

You may have seen in the media that the Government has announced new assessment and reporting requirements for schools. There is a new online SMART tool for assessment that is required from 2027. This year we will be continuing using our current online e-asTTle assessment tool, as well as our one on one assessments for maths and literacy, and will look into the SMART tool for 2027. As more information comes out regarding reporting, we will look to adapt our reporting as needed. At this stage it will be staying the same until we get further clarification.

In the holidays I found my childhood book, The Faraway Tree, and started reading it to Delilah. It is such a good book for all ages, and so I thought it would be great to read it to the whole school as part of our literacy programme. On the last day of the term we will all be going to see this at the movies in Rangiora. If you would like to provide transport and come with us, please let me know. The cost of the movie will be covered by our activity contribution from parents. Children will take water bottles and we will send out a google form nearer the time if you would like to order popcorn.

A big congratulations to all of our students who completed our school triathlon, what a great achievement! We had eight children participate in the Kowai Triathlon with our local schools. Well done to Hugo, Michael, Arlo, Ferg, Harry, Alex, Kenzie and Hugh. The following students were placed:

Hugh - 2nd
Harry - 1st
Alex - 3rd
Hugo - 3rd

Good luck to Hugh and Harry who are off to the Canterbury triathlon tomorrow!

Ngā mihi
Maree Lucas
Tumuaki/Principal
principal@omihi.school.nz

School Notices

Omihi bus
Please note there is no Omihi bus this afternoon - Monday 16th February - due to First Aid training for all staff.

Year 4-8 Small School Swimming Sports
On Tuesday 3rd March, we will be joining Waipara and Broomfield School at the Amberley Pool for our Small School Swimming Sports. We will start at 9.30am, and finish by lunchtime. We will take the school bus, so please let Maree know if your child needs a ride or if you will meet us there.

Year 4-8 Kowai Swimming Sports
The children that qualify from the Small School Swimming Sports will participate in the Kowai Swimming Sports on Friday 6th March at 1.30pm at the Amberley Pool.

Author visit
As part of our ‘Belonging to our Community’ inquiry, we have a local author visiting on Wednesday 4th March. We are excited to welcome Emma Francis who wrote Rocco and Delilah Bee - The Magic of Kindness.

Food Truck Friday
We are collaborating with Farmstrong to bring Food Truck Friday to Omihi. This will be across the road at the Omihi Hall on Friday 6th March, from 5pm - 9pm. It is not a fundraiser, just a chance to bring the wider community together. Kelly will be singing and there will be a number of food trucks available to purchase dinner. Bring a picnic rug, and we would love to see you there.

Whole school assembly - please note change of date
We welcome you to our whole school assembly on Monday 30th March at 2pm.

Library
We are fortunate to be linked to the Hurunui Library, so we have access to a number of books. Our books can be returned either at school or at the library in Amberley. We are also really grateful to have Mrs Turnbull as our librarian. Our library day is Wednesdays.

Little Oaks Preschool
On Monday 2nd March, Paemoana will be visiting Little Oaks Preschool and the Hurunui Library. They will travel by bus with Maree and Georgie.

Community Notices

First day back in the sunshine!

Kia ora koutou

It was such a nice start to the day to see our tamariki smiling and excited to be back this morning, and a chance to say hi to a number of our parents as well.

We warmly welcome Dovi and Ben who are joining our Paemoana whānau this week. Starting primary school is such a special time, and we truly want them to feel welcome and have a sense of belonging to our Omihi whānau.

I recently attended a breakfast where Owen Eastwood was the guest speaker. He is a performance coach from NZ, who specialises in leadership and culture, and has worked with a number of high profile sports and business organisations, such as the England men’s football team, South African cricket team, Harlequins Rugby, the Royal Ballet, NATO’s Command Group plus many more. He has written a book called ‘Belonging’, which draws on his Māori heritage and the concept of whakapapa—the belief that people are part of an unbroken chain, bound by shared identity and purpose.

One of the points I took away from this was that when people belong, they thrive. For us at Omihi, whakawhanaungatanga (building relationships) is such an important part of our daily life, as this is when our teachers, our staff, and our tamariki feel like they belong, and therefore can ako, tipu, puāwai (learn, grow and thrive).

Ngā mihi
Maree Lucas
Tumuaki/Principal
principal@omihi.school.nz

School Notices

Stationery
Please can you hand in your child’s stationery to their teacher, and they will give it out as needed. The lists can be ordered through www.myschool.co.nz/omihi. We will give students their books and invoice you for these.

Whānau picnic - change of date
As the weather looks terrible for tomorrow, we are changing this to Monday 9th February, from 3.15pm - 5.15pm. The council will run the sausage sizzle from 4pm, and the pool will be open from 3.15 - 4.15pm. Children are only able to swim if their parents are attending. We would love to see you there.

Evan’s farm walk
On Tuesday 10th February, we will be doing a walk on the Evans’ farm, as part of our ‘Belonging to our community’ inquiry. Please let Maree know if you are able to help with transport and be a parent helper on the trip.

Omihi bus
Please note there is no Omihi bus on the afternoon of Monday 16th February due to First Aid training for all staff.

School lunch orders in 2026
Lunch Online has been taken over by Ezlunch. Ezlunch continues to work with the same providers, so we will continue to have Subway or sushi available on alternating Wednesdays, starting with Subway this week. Families who have previously ordered through Lunch Online should have received an email from Ezlunch with new login details.

Triathlon
Our school triathlon for Year 1-8 is on Thursday 5th February at 1.30pm. We welcome parents to come and watch. The top 3 children in each year level from Year 5-8 will go to the Kowai triathlon on Thursday 12th February at the Amberley Domain. Children can bring their bikes to school each day in week 1 to practise.

Sunsmart policy
A reminder that as part of our Sunsmart policy, sun hats need to be worn every day in term 1. Please put sunscreen on your child before school. If your child has a rash vest, please send that along for swimming. We will be swimming every day if possible.

Year 4-8 Small School Swimming Sports
On Tuesday 3rd March, we will be joining Waipara and Broomfield School at the Amberley Pool for our small school swimming sports. We will start at 9.30am, and finish by lunchtime. We will take the school bus, so please let us know if your child needs a ride or if you will meet us there.

Food Truck Friday
We are collaborating with Farmstrong to bring Food Truck Friday to Omihi. This will be across the road at the Omihi Hall on Friday 6th March, from 5pm - 9pm. It is not a fundraiser, just a chance to bring the wider community together. Kelly will be singing and there will be a number of food trucks available to purchase dinner. Bring a picnic rug, and we would love to see you there.

Whole school assembly
We welcome you to our whole school assembly on Thursday 2nd April at 2pm.

ICT agreements
This week your child will be bringing home an ICT agreement. Please read through this with them, and both sign it and then send it back. After week 2, children will not be able to use school devices unless this is returned.

Basketball
Please let Bryleigh know ASAP if your child is interested in playing basketball in Term 1. There is a 3x3 competition for Year 5/6 students on Thursday nights at Mainpower Stadium in Rangiora ($230 team fee), or a 5x5 competition for Year 7/8 students on Friday nights, played at both Mainpower Stadium and Kaiapoi High School ($420 team fee). Fees would be split evenly between registered players. Games start 12/13 February and run for 6 weeks.

Community Notices